How often is the real best picture of the year actually awarded that title, though? Many times, they're not even nominated.

Yep.

The Oscar's are all about the here and now. It makes no difference to the academy which films age better years from now. It's all a matter of opinion anyway.

Generally, I thought most of this year's nominees were very weak, so I didn't really care what won. Toy Story 3 might have been my favourite, but no way in hell would the academy award that Best Picture.